Unoriginal_Username:fusillade762: Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado

Wait... they didn't establish tax rates when they legalized it??

Ywah, pretty stupid. It needs to be taxed, just like cigarettes.

Sure, but don't cry when that revenue stream gets constricted. Regressive taxes are not a bottomless font of money for new projects that wouldn't pass otherwise. WA local governments are kept in the black mostly by sales tax in some cases, and there haven't been as many sales in the last seven years... Schools and transit have seen terrible cuts for consecutive budgets where I am.

I'm surprised it's taken so long for any place in the US to legalize marijuana. Making weed legal everywhere would be yet another "opiate for the masses" in the bread and circuses thing that pacifies and entertains the 99% who might otherwise be setting up the guillotine for a revolution.

Amos Quito:Unoriginal_Username: fusillade762: Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado

Wait... they didn't establish tax rates when they legalized it??

Ywah, pretty stupid. It needs to be taxed, just like cigarettes.

And air, and water, and sex...

Tax thingy??

But seriously, it should be taxed.

I'm fine with a tax on it as long as the price - with tax - ends up comparable with the current black market price. If it doesn't, I - along with most others - will continue to purchase from our current supplier.

WordyGrrl:I'm surprised it's taken so long for any place in the US to legalize marijuana. Making weed legal everywhere would be yet another "opiate for the masses" in the bread and circuses thing that pacifies and entertains the 99% who might otherwise be setting up the guillotine for a revolution.

Weed makes people too happy to be scared. Happy people don't work as hard at shiat jobs for low pay.

Intrepid00:fusillade762: Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado

Wait... they didn't establish tax rates when they legalized it??

People will just grow it themselves anyway.

I thought this as well at first. Figured I'd be able to grow enough to smoke and put some away for any dry times.

I did a bit of research and once it was legal, I bought supplies and gave growing a try. Growing takes much more effort and attention than I was expecting. When it was all said and done, I failed miserably and I won't be trying again.

I've never been very good with plants in general. I can only keep cacti alive. While some people will grow, there are a bunch that will be happy to go to the store. Just like tomatoes and eggs, you can produce them yourself but it's easier to just get them at the store.

But again, the price (including tax) has to be comparable to current black market prices. Otherwise this whole thing falls apart.

UsikFark:Unoriginal_Username: fusillade762: Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado

Wait... they didn't establish tax rates when they legalized it??

Ywah, pretty stupid. It needs to be taxed, just like cigarettes.

Sure, but don't cry when that revenue stream gets constricted. Regressive taxes are not a bottomless font of money for new projects that wouldn't pass otherwise. WA local governments are kept in the black mostly by sales tax in some cases, and there haven't been as many sales in the last seven years... Schools and transit have seen terrible cuts for consecutive budgets where I am.

Seeing as I don't smoke pot, and haven't touched a cigarette in years, I'm not worried about these taxes. I'm just surprised that this wasn't addressed when they legalized it.

"Marijuana places a significant strain on our health care system, and poses considerable danger to the health and safety of the users themselves, their families, and our communities. We know that marijuana use, particularly long-term, chronic use that began at a young age, can lead to dependence and addiction. Marijuana is not a benign drug "

Yeah, but vice taxes get raised before any others. People "hate taxes," but they hate perceived hedonists more. Politicians can abuse this by saying "We'll fund X by raising the sin tax." I'm not saying this is hypothetical, in truth many states tax the hell out of whatever they can because they're strapped for cash and raising more progressive taxes is seen as unpopular. We recently saw a "Bottled water" tax come and go in Washington. The problem is that raising vice taxes bites you in the ass when people buy less of something and your money goes away. If you live somewhere that funds important public services from a form of sales tax it's likely those budgets shrank when the economy shrank.So pay attention to taxes, it actually does effect you even if you aren't the one being taxed.

ChubbyTiger:Unoriginal_Username: fusillade762: Earlier this month, a group opposed to Proposition AA, the measure to establish tax rates on recreational marijuana sales in Colorado

Wait... they didn't establish tax rates when they legalized it??

Ywah, pretty stupid. It needs to be taxed, just like cigarettes.

I disagree. Taxed? Yes. But I think it should be taxed at normal sales tax rates, not at some special sin tax rate like cigarettes.

It should certainly be taxed, though I'm on the fence about the rate. One of the big selling points for recreational legalization is increased revenue for the state. If we want more states to legalize, there has to be proof that it makes enough money to be worthwhile. Given that, I'd think the tax rate should be set at the maximum level it can be before it has a negative effect of driving people back to the black market.

There will be some people who are opposed to a tax of any amount, and some who will buy it legally no matter the tax rate, the key is finding that sweet spot that maximizes tax revenue through high returns and maximum compliance.

machoprogrammer:Wow, people still have that irrational love for Biden because of an Onion meme?

They really should have looked up the White House's stance on marijuana before inviting himhttp://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/marijuana

"Marijuana places a significant strain on our health care system, and poses considerable danger to the health and safety of the users themselves, their families, and our communities. We know that marijuana use, particularly long-term, chronic use that began at a young age, can lead to dependence and addiction. Marijuana is not a benign drug "

Obama and the white house have probably played the only safe hand in the mmj game right now - parroting the line above while quietly pushing it into state's rights territory. When you have the drug czar announcing a shift towards leniency, there's a lot of momentum behind the scenes.

machoprogrammer:Wow, people still have that irrational love for Biden because of an Onion meme?

Yeah, it's sad when people are misinformed. I feel the same way when a family values Republican is on his third wife or widens his stance. Electing someone like Mark Foley to the House five times is about as bad as inviting Biden to CO.